Overview

The Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies is a studies-based interdisciplinary major. It features the academic (aesthetic, analytical, critical, historical, theoretical) and interdisciplinary study of communication as represented by the departments included within the Lew Klein College of Media and Communication.

Designed to ensure flexibility and choice, Communication Studies allows students a chance to fully investigate multiple fields in the communications discipline. Emphasis is placed on providing an overview of Communication while also accentuating personal academic growth. Personal choice and options allow students a chance to complete the degree in a timely manner.

In this interdisciplinary program, Communication Studies students must select one of the following concentrations as a distinctive area of investigation:

  • Communication and Entrepreneurship
  • Contemporary Media Environments
  • Global and Community Engagement
  • Production (for Temple Japan students only)
  • Communication Studies Thesis (the Major of Distinction concentration, which is available for advanced scholars)

An optional concentration in International Communication is also available.

The flexibility of the Communication Studies program offers students access to the field experiences, internships and study away experiences vital to a comprehensive education. Students with a number of skill sets and academic interest areas are often drawn to this innovative program and graduates are poised for a number of professional and academic possibilities, such as graduate, law or professional school. Graduates of this program will be well-suited to pursue a variety of positions across numerous aspects of the communications field.

Students receive cross-curricular expertise through foundation and core courses. Academic rigor and student choice are at the very core of the program. Choices allow a student flexibility, and curricular oversight ensures a solid, academically robust education. Courses are designed to allow student progress to be monitored at yearly intervals. Experiential learning is promoted, particularly during the junior and senior years. Cross cultural exchanges and experiences are integral aspects of the program's design. Advanced scholars have a distinct and individualized concentration.

Communication Studies Thesis (Major of Distinction) Concentration

The Communication Studies Thesis concentration, also referred to as the Major of Distinction concentration, is an academically rigorous program for students who wish to construct an interdisciplinary curriculum that meets their individual interests across the Klein departments. In the Major of Distinction, each student works individually with a faculty advisor from a relevant Klein department to build a curriculum that goes beyond the offered concentrations. The student completes five courses, four of which must be at the 3000 or 4000 level, and in the senior year completes a two-semester thesis. A student in the Major of Distinction must have completed three semesters of a foreign language (or equivalent with the approval of the Director of Communication Studies) by the time of graduation. If appropriate to the student's research, an advanced methods or theory course may be required by the student's faculty advisor.

Students apply for a Major of Distinction in the second semester of their sophomore year. To be considered, students must be on schedule to complete their Foundational and Core Communications courses by the end of their sophomore year. Also, students must have earned at least a 3.5 cumulative grade point average (GPA) in their Foundational and Core Communications courses along with a 3.25 overall GPA. Students must submit an application to the Director of Communication Studies that includes a statement of student's interest, a proposed curriculum, and a support letter from a full-time Klein faculty member willing to act as the student's faculty advisor.

Once accepted into the Major of Distinction and in consultation with his or her faculty advisor and the Director of Communication Studies, each student constructs his or her own curriculum. The curriculum must contain five courses, four of which must be at the 3000 or 4000 level, and include courses from at least three of the Klein majors. Courses selected should be designed to lead to the senior-year thesis.

Campus Locations: Main and Japan

Program Code: CO-CMST-BA

Contact Information

Main Campus

Scott Gratson, PhD, Program Director
Annenberg Hall, Room 9D
215-204-6434
sgratson@temple.edu

Kisha Hence, Assistant Program Director
Annenberg Hall, Room 9C
215-204-6603
khence@temple.edu

Temple Japan Campus

Kevin Jones, MFA, Chair of the Division of Media and Fine Arts
kevinhjones@tuj.temple.edu

Ron Carr, MFA, Faculty Advisor for the Communication Studies Major
carr@tuj.temple.edu

Learn more about the Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies.

These requirements are for students who matriculated in academic year 2024-2025. Students who matriculated prior to fall 2024 should refer to the Archives to view the requirements for their Bulletin year.

Summary of Requirements

The degree of Bachelor of Arts may be conferred upon a student majoring in Communication Studies by the recommendation of the faculty and upon satisfactory completion of a minimum of 124 semester hours (s.h.) of credit with a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 overall and in the major.

Students must meet:

  1. University requirements
    • All students are required to complete the General Education (GenEd) curriculum.
    • All students must take a minimum of two writing-intensive courses in the major at Temple University.
  2. Lew Klein College of Media and Communication requirements, including KLN 1002 and KLN 1002.
  3. Minimum of 42 s.h. in Communication Studies.
  4. Each course that fulfills a requirement for the major must be passed with a C- or better.
  5. Maximum of 30 s.h. in any one Klein department may be counted toward the major.
  6. A maximum of 4 s.h. of Internship credit may be counted toward the degree.
  7. A maximum of 8 s.h. combined of Independent Study and/or Special Projects may be counted toward the degree.
  8. No more than 8 s.h. in Kinesiology and Dance activities courses.
  9. Students may participate in study away programs.
  10. Transfer students are required to complete a minimum of 24 s.h. of major courses at Temple.
  11. Communication Studies majors may minor in established Klein minors. The Communication Studies student who declares a minor must complete the entire program requirements for both the major and the minor. Courses listed for both the Communication Studies major and Klein minor will only apply towards one of the curriculums. If the class is part of an array of courses, students will be required to take a different course to satisfy the major requirement.

Communication Studies: Communication Studies Thesis (Major of Distinction) Requirements

  1. All Communication Studies majors must take two foundation courses:
    CMST 1111Communication and Public Life3
    Select one of the following:
    Introduction to Media Analysis
    Communicating Organizational Change
    Global Communication and Leadership
    Total Credit Hours3
  2. All majors will take five additional core courses. Students will select one course each from the categories below (15 credits). Students should plan to meet the prerequisites for courses in their selected concentration (see below) by taking appropriate core courses.
    Core Courses
    CMST 2111Communications Seminar 13
    Communication Theory
    Select one of the following:3
    Introduction to Media and Society
    Introduction to Advertising
    Journalism and Society
    Introduction to Media Theory
    Research Methods
    Select one of the following:3
    Introduction to Brand Strategy and Research
    Journalism Research
    Media Research 1
    Analysis
    Select one of the following:3
    Introduction to Art Direction: Visual Communication
    Media Popular Culture 1
    Introduction to Public Speaking
    Honors Introduction to Public Speaking
    Cross-Cultural Perspectives
    Select one of the following:3
    Intercultural Communication
    Communication, Culture and Identity
    Total Credit Hours15
    1

    Course has prerequisites.

  3. In the Communication Studies Thesis (Major of Distinction), each student works individually with a faculty advisor from a relevant Klein department to build a curriculum that goes beyond that offered by the established concentrations.
    Major of Distinction Coursework21
    One Klein course at any level3
    Four 3000+ Klein courses12
    CMST Thesis Hours6
    Language Proficiency
    Language 1001 level
    Language 1002 level
    Language 1003 level

Suggested Academic Plan

Please note that this is a suggested academic plan. Depending on your situation, your academic plan may look different.

Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies with Concentration in Communication Studies Thesis (Major of Distinction)

Suggested Plan for New Students Starting in the 2024-2025 Academic Year

Plan of Study Grid
Year 1
FallCredit Hours
CMST 1111 Communication and Public Life 3
Select one of the following: 3
Introduction to Media Analysis  
Communicating Organizational Change  
Global Communication and Leadership  
ENG 0802
Analytical Reading and Writing [GW]
or Analytical Reading and Writing: ESL [GW]
or Honors Analytical Reading and Writing [GW]
4
KLN 1001 Klein First-Year Seminar 1
Foreign Language 1001 level 4
 Credit Hours15
Spring
KLN 1002 Klein College Introduction to Professional Development 1
Select one of the following (Communication Theory): 3
Introduction to Media and Society  
Introduction to Advertising  
Journalism and Society  
Introduction to Media Theory  
IH 0851
Intellectual Heritage I: The Good Life [GY]
or Honors Intellectual Heritage I: The Good Life [GY]
3
GenEd Quantitative Literacy Course [GQ] 4
GenEd Breadth Course 3
Foreign Language 1002 Level 4
 Credit Hours18
Year 2
Fall
CMST 2111 Communications Seminar 3
Select one of the following (Analysis): 3
Introduction to Art Direction: Visual Communication  
Media Popular Culture  
Introduction to Public Speaking
or Honors Introduction to Public Speaking
 
GenEd Breadth Course 3-4
GenEd Breadth Course 3
Foreign Language 1003 Level 3
 Credit Hours15
Spring
Select one of the following (Research Methods): 3
Introduction to Brand Strategy and Research  
Journalism Research  
Media Research  
Select one of the following (Cross-Cultural Perspectives): 3
Intercultural Communication  
Communication, Culture and Identity  
IH 0852
Intellectual Heritage II: The Common Good [GZ]
or Honors Intellectual Heritage II: The Common Good [GZ]
3
GenEd Breadth Course 3
GenEd Breadth Course 3
 Credit Hours15
Year 3
Fall
One Writing-Intensive Klein Course - any level 3
One 3000-4999 Klein Course 3
GenEd Breadth Course 3
Electives 6
 Credit Hours15
Spring
One 3000-4999 Writing-Intensive Klein Course 3
One 4000-4999 Klein Course 3
GenEd Breadth Course 3
Electives 7
 Credit Hours16
Year 4
Fall
Thesis Hours 3
One 3000-4999 Klein Course 3
Electives 9
 Credit Hours15
Spring
Thesis Hours 3
Electives 12
 Credit Hours15
 Total Credit Hours124

Optional Concentration

The optional International Communication Concentration (ICC) provides a theoretical and practical education in international and intercultural communication and media. This program allows students to develop sought-after competencies in cultural sensitivity and intercultural communication skills by encouraging students to reflect on their own cultural lenses. Students participating in the ICC program will be exposed to multiple international perspectives through internationally- and interculturally-oriented courses offered on Temple's domestic campuses and may be supplemented with study abroad coursework.

This concentration is restricted to Klein students only.

Requirements

To earn the International Communication Concentration transcript notation, a student must successfully complete a total of 18-20 credits of International / Intercultural studies courses, a maximum 9 credits of which may come from courses transferred into Temple, across 3 areas. Each course that fulfills a requirement for the concentration must be passed with a C- or better.

Common Course
Select one of the following:3
Intercultural Communication
Intercultural Communication in the Workplace
Klein International/Intercultural courses
Select three of the following:9
Any ADV, CMST, CSI, JRN, MSP, or PR courses taken as part of a Klein GO International Program, or on an overseas Temple Campus (Main Campus Students: Rome or Japan; TUJ Students: Main or Rome; Rome Students: Main or Japan).
Any ADV, CMST, CSI, JRN, MSP, or PR International Internship completed as part of a Klein GO Program
Intercultural and Cross Cultural Conflict
Communication, Culture and Identity
Intercultural Communication in the Workplace (if not used to fulfill common course requirement above)
International Reporting
Journalism and Globalization
Media and Cultural Differences
Communication and Development
Information Society
Global Media
Global Communication and Leadership
International/Intercultural Electives outside of Klein
Note: Satisfying the GenEd World Society requirement by completing a Study Abroad does not also satisfy this requirement.
Choose any two (2) courses of the following:6-8
Up to any two foreign language courses
Any non-Klein courses at the 2000-level or higher taken in a Klein GO International Program, or on an overseas Temple Campus (Main Campus Students: Rome or Japan; TUJ Students: Main or Rome; Rome Students: Main or Japan).
Any non-Klein internship taken in a Klein GO International Program
Anthropology
Visual Anthropology of Modern Japan
Visual Anthropology of Modern Japan
The Anthropology of Modern China
The Anthropology of Modern China
Peoples of Latin America
Peoples of Latin America
Peoples and Cultures of the Caribbean
Peoples and Cultures of the Caribbean
Art History
Roman Art and Archaeology
Greek and Roman Sculpture
Early Modern Italy and Spain in the 17th Century
Northern and Global Baroque Art: Art in the Age of Rubens, Rembrandt, Vermeer
Transnational Impressionisms
Modern Art, 1900-1945
Arts of Asia
History of Art in Rome (Study Abroad - Rome)
Art and Culture in Ancient Rome (Study Abroad - Rome)
Wonders of Rome: Art and Culture of the Baroque Era (Study Abroad - Rome)
Galleries and Studios of Rome (Study Abroad - Rome)
Arts of Asia (Study Abroad - Japan)
Pre-Modern Japanese Art up to the Edo Period (Study Abroad - Japan)
Asian Studies
Practical Asian Society and Culture
Survey of Japanese Literature Before 1868
Tokyo in Literature and Film
Tokyo in Literature and Film
Japanese Literature in Film
Japanese Literature in Film
Japan in a Changing World
South Asia: Peoples, Culture, Experiences
Japanese Culture
Japanese Culture
Introduction to Southeast Asia: Insular
Introduction to Southeast Asia: Mainland
Introduction to Asian Business
Ideology and Social Change in Japan
Ideology and Social Change in Japan
China: State and Society
China: State and Society
Contemporary China
Contemporary China
Japan Today
Japan Today
Women and Society in Japan
Women and Society in Japan
Film & Media Arts
International Cinema
Geography & Urban Studies
Urban Systems in a Global Economy
African Development
East and South Asia
Geography of East and South Asia
International Urbanization
Environmental Problems in Asia
Environmental Problems in Asia
Environmental Problems in Asia
Geography of Travel and Tourism
Transportation & Culture
History
History of Central Europe, 1618-1871
Central Europe Through Wars and Revolution, 1848-1989
Introduction to East Asia: China
Introduction to East Asia: China
Introduction to East Asia: Japan
Introduction to East Asia: Japan
Introduction to Southeast Asia: Insular
Introduction to Southeast Asia: Insular
Introduction to Southeast Asia: Mainland
Introduction to Southeast Asia: Mainland
Introduction to African History
Introduction to Latin America
Civilization and Modernity in the Caribbean
Civilization and Modernity in the Caribbean
Modern Islamic History
Third World Issues through Film
Irish History
History of England
Russia: Nationality and Empire
Russia: Revolution, State, and Empire
Southern Africa: A History
The Chinese Revolution
Modern India
History of Vietnam
History of Brazil
History of Brazil
Contemporary Mexico
Contemporary Mexico
Israel: History, Politics and Society
Modern Middle East
Third World Women's Lives
Jewish Studies
Jewish Diaspora/Survey of Jewish History
Latin American Studies
Latin America through Film and Fiction
Comparative Political Systems in Latin America
Fundamentals of Latin American Business
Fundamentals of Latin American Business
Historical Continuity and Social Change in Latin America
Sociology of Music: Nation, Race, Class and Gender in Argentina and Brazil
"Other Voices" in Latin American Literature
Caribbean Literature and Culture
African Culture in Brazil
Political Science
Contemporary Politics of Europe
Eastern Europe, Russia and the West
Comparative Political Systems in Latin America
Comparative Public Policy
Politics of International Law
Politics of the Global Economy
International Organization
British Government and Politics
Mideast Politics
East Asia and the United States
East Asia and the United States
International Environmental Policy
International Environmental Policy
Religion
Religion and Human Sexuality
Religion in Film
Indian Philosophies and Religions
Religions of India
Introduction to Buddhism
Introduction to Buddhism
Chinese Religions - Confucius to Mao
Zen Buddhism
Zen Buddhism
Introduction to Judaism
Introduction to Judaism
Kabbalah and Mysticism
Kabbalah and Mysticism
Jesus in the Media
Introduction to Islam
Religion in Contemporary Africa
Monks, Masters, and Magicians: Religion in Premodern Chinese Literature
Monks, Masters, and Magicians: Religion in Premodern Chinese Literature
I-Ching, Tao, and Ch'an/Zen
I-Ching, Tao, and Ch'an/Zen
Japanese Religions
Japanese Religions
The Philosophies of Judaism
The Philosophies of Judaism
The Islamic State
Women in Islam
Islamic Mysticism
African Religions and New World Culture
Total Credit Hours18-20

Contact Information

Jack Klotz, MSP Faculty Advisor
Annenberg Hall, Room 115
215-204-5823
jklotz@temple.edu

Accelerated Programs

Students may opt to pursue an accelerated +1 program, enabling them to complete both a bachelor's degree and master's degree in less time than the traditional route.

The following accelerated programs are available to students in the Communication Studies BA:

Lew Klein College of Media and Communication